On days like these… Gorgeous weather. No wind. Nothing that layers can’t deal with on the temperature front. Nowhere to be at nowhen. You’d think such a day would be an excuse to just pootle around the Levels in the sun in self-indulgent fashion. But, oddly, no. I really wanted to be out there, and the only way to feel really out there is to be on the top of out there and that really means going up to get there. As you know, I’m crap up hills, but I’m better going up hills all by myself. You probably know that by now too! So, being billy no mates, it was becoming clear that today was going to be an uphill struggle ;).
Of course I’d probably have been better off if I hadn’t left my legs on the Wattbike over the last couple of days. Whilst I’m sure it’s really good on the training front in the long run, and I’ve been enjoying the whole hot sweaty constructive mess that those sessions are, in the short term I swear I thought it was going to take me all day to get up Burrington Combe, with Cheddar Gorge already in my legs. But I just kinda got on with it, and as I emerged from hibernating in the shady sheltered Combe into the bright sunlight on top the Mendips again, it kinda came together. It made sense on some level anyway :).
No zone today, it was more about letting the legs go round, zoning the body out, and letting the head spin its wheels for a while. And when my head wasn’t doing that, it was about remembering to enjoy it, as such days will be few and far between for a while. I took in the views, admired the beautiful autumn leaves, enjoyed a little rather fresh air, and smiled in the sunshine. There are some motorists out there wondering who the grinning eejot on the bike was…especially coming down Shipham Hill *grin*.
Cycling time: 2:05 hrs.
Distance: 27.6 miles.
Avs: 13.1 mph.
ODO: 16844.8 miles
Tomorrow I’m riding again, with Martyn, something easy and flat I hope. My kit is already washed and drying on the radiators. And on Friday it’s the Tour of Pembrokeshire Prologue ride which involves mad travelling just to get there, and then apparently, once there, a test Bianchi Infinito to ride it on. That’s supposing we can get the pedals and saddle off my bike of course. So that’s 45 properly hilly miles on a bike I’m not used to, that may not fit properly, with gears that are probably nowhere near low enough for me. I think I’d better order some replacement cleats now…! :/.
